xXx: Return of Xander Cage

With only the slightest tonal shift, xXx: Return of Xander Cage could have worked as a spoof of over the top action films.  As it is, the movie is incredibly dumb, but it's at least smart enough to know this.  It's the kind of movie where the entire cast can't seem to suppress their laughter at some of the dialogue or scenes they're required to do.  Fortunately, the movie lets us know early on that we're not supposed to take this seriously in the first place.  This may be junk, but I would be lying if I didn't say I had a lot of fun watching it.

Diesel returns to the role he created back in 2002 (and abandoned for the 2005 follow up), playing an extreme sports and stunts enthusiast who is also a government operative.  Xander Cage has been presumed to be dead these past 10 years or so, but those pesky government agents led by the ice cold Jane Marke (Toni Colette) track him down for a new mission.  They need him to stop some renegades from getting their hands on a device called "Pandora's Box", which has the ability to bring satellites down from the sky on specific targets.  Once you know that, you understand the plot for the most part.  The rest is pure dumb spectacle, though it's been done with a sense of humor, and even the occasional breaking of the fourth wall.  This is a movie that is aware of what it is, and makes no apologies for it.  And unlike just about every movie Michael Bay has made for the past 20 years or so, it's successful both as an intentionally dumb spectacle, and at poking fun at itself.

xXs is not a masterful pure action film like Mad Max: Fury Road.  It won't be up for any Oscars, and it won't win over the critics.  But the movie works on a basic level.  We come for a lot of stunts and action, and the movie delivers.  We're not supposed to ask questions like how does Xander's motorcycle suddenly sprout skis, which allows him to not only ride the water, but surf a tidal wave?  We're also not supposed to try to make sense of the plot, which is filled with backstabbing and changed alliances, but it all really doesn't really make much of a difference in the end.  A movie like this, you can only judge by the simple fact of whether you had fun watching it or not, and I had a lot of fun.  What can I say, Vin Diesel knows how to deliver this kind of material (as well he should by now) and director D.J. Caruso (making a turnaround here after the dreary and dumb The Disappointments Room) knows how to stage some impressive action sequences.

Some people will find the movie overkill, and I certainly won't argue with them.  The only thing that saves it is that there are some moments of humor that I genuinely laughed at.  If it weren't for the fact that this movie is aware of how insanely stupid it is, I probably would have not been able to fully recommend it for a certain audience.  And yes, I can only recommend this to certain viewers, and I think you know if you fall under the category.  Here are some simple questions that can help you know if you would enjoy this or not.  Does the sight of the film's hero base jump off of a TV tower, fall 400 feet, land on a pair of skis, glide through a mountain, and then make his way down the street on a skateboard make you smile, or shake your head in disbelief?  Maybe both?  If you can add a big dumb grin to that reaction, this movie is for you.

Does every movie have to be good for you, or be intelligent to work?  Of course not.  Heck, with so many serious "Award" movies going into wide release, it's kind of a nice change of pace.  xXx is not a great movie, but it succeeds at what it wants to do. 

2 comments